Groups and teams

Question 1

Define group.

Answer 1

Groups are those social aggregates that involve mutual awareness and the potential for interaction.

Question 2

What are the 5 characteristics of a group?

Answer 2

• A common goal
• A collective identity (kit)
• A clear structure for communication
• Group unity
• Sense of shared purpose

Question 3

Define group cohesion.

Answer 3

The extent to which a group sticks together in pursuit of a common goal.

Question 4

Define task cohesion.

Answer 4

When members work to complete the task successfully.

Important in interactive sports, e.g.: rugby, netball.

Question 5

Define social cohesion.

Answer 5

Involves members enjoying social interaction and forming relationships.
Important in coactive sports, e.g.: swimming, athletics.

Question 6

Why might cohesiveness break down?

Answer 6

• Formation of sub-groups
• Poor group dynamics
• Losses in co-ordination: mistakes made, bad timing, break down in team work
• Loss in motivation
• Team members not ‘pulling their weight’

Question 7

What is Steiners model of group performance?

Answer 7

AP = PP - FP

Question 8

What do each part of Steiners model stand for?

Answer 8

AP - actual productivity
PP - potential productivity
FP - faulty processes

Question 9

What are the 2 faulty processes that can occur?

Answer 9

Motivation losses

Co-ordination losses

Question 10

What effect is associated with co-ordinaion losses?

What is it?

Answer 10

The Ringelmann effect - co-ordination losses are more likely to occur if team numbers increase.

Question 11

What are co-ordination losses?

Answer 11

• Break down in teamwork.
• Team effectiveness not sustained (e.g. losing).
• Ringelmann effect.

Question 12

Describe motivation losses that occur.

Answer 12

• Where an individual suffers a reduction in motivation during performance.
• Performer withdraws effort and ‘coasts’.
• Relaxation effort - social loafing.

Question 13

What causes social loafing?

Answer 13

• A feeling that others are not trying
• Lack of reinforcement by others
• Negative past experiences
• Task is too difficult
• Perception of low ability

Question 14

Why social loafing detrimental to performance?

Answer 14

• Impedes cohesiveness

- Causes performance to decrease

Question 15

What are the ways of combatting social loafing?

Answer 15

• Simplify task
• Positive reinforcement - rewards, e.g. man of the match
• Highlight the importance of individual effort
• Punish lack of effort - substitution
• Set individual goals
• Give the individual responsibility (e.g. captain)
• Increase confidence of individual
• Attribute success to sustained work rate

Question 16

What are the causes of co-ordiantion problems?

Answer 16

• Injury can disrupt team strategies and break down co-ordination
• Large team numbers - Ringlemann effect
• Vague individual roles inhibit effective teamwork
• Breakdown in team tactic
• Inadequate leadership inhibits teamwork
• Personality can influence team cohesion as people with low trait confidence find it difficult to promote group cohesion

Question 17

What are the way of combatting co-ordination problems?

Answer 17

• Train regularly - team cohesion
• Rehearse set plays so they’re grooved
• Allocate specific roles during set plays
• Stress team effort
• Feedback on previous marches
• Attribute success to teamwork

Question 18

Describe motivational losses that may occur in performance.

Answer 18

• Team performance is affected by social loafing
• Lack of identifiable roles in team members
• Injury
• Lack of team/social cohesion
• Task too difficult

Question 19

Explain the possible effects of a group on the behaviour related to lifestyle of group members.

Answer 19

• Influence of group norms from other in the group or pressure to conform to a certain lifestyle
• To be accepted/a sense of belonging to a group (which can lead to positive or negative lifestyle behaviours)
• Can motivate/encourage you to follow an active and healthy lifestyle or not to follow an active and healthy lifestyle
• Confidence can be increased with the presence of others in the group or it may be decreased (leading to social loafing)
• Deindividuation/lose sense of identity can occur when in a group which can lead to dysfunctional/unhealthy behaviour
• Leaders in the group can influence behaviour (positive or negative effects) / role model yourself to influence a healthy lifestyle

Question 20

Describe motivational losses that may occur in performance.

Answer 20

• Team performance is affected by social loafing
• Lack of identifiable roles in team members
• Injury
• Lack of team/social cohesion
• Task too difficult

Question 21

Explain the possible effects of a group on the behaviour related to lifestyle of group members.

Answer 21

• Influence of group norms from other in the group or pressure to conform to a certain lifestyle
• Confidence can be increased with the presence of others in the group or it may be decreased (leading to social loafing)
• Deindividuation/lose sense of identity can occur when in a group which can lead to dysfunctional/unhealthy behaviour
• Leaders in the group can influence behaviour (positive or negative effects) / role model yourself to influence a healthy lifestyle
• To be accepted/ a sense of belonging to a group (which can lead to positive or negative lifestyle behaviours)

Question 22

Explain why some sports teams seem to be more cohesive and successful than other teams of similar ability.

Answer 22

• Group members sharing the same goals
• Effective leadership/quality of leadership
• Level of success/past experiences - if team has been successful then more likely to be cohesive
• The event importance can increase cohesion - Eg Playing in the cup final makes a team more unified
• High level of individual motivation or a lack of social loafers (Steiner) - e.g. team members are equally motivated